Pledgesmith

From Changeling Venue

Below are a few of Briggs and Reeb's more notable works. Each pledge is crafted to suit and we are willing to work with you to ensure quality of content. Of course, for the sake of our clients names have been edited and/or removed.

{OoC - Mr. Briggs is a master pledgesmith: Pledgesmith lvl. 3}

“Freehold of the XXXXX”

p.1 [Defining Terms] For the purposes of this pledge, the term “king” shall refer to the singular person that currently and rightfully holds the seasonal crown of the Freehold of the XXXXX. Kings shall rule for no more and no less than the season that their mantle represents. Any attempt to continue rule after this point or failure to rule up to this point immediately violates the pledge (see violation stipulations p.4 below). The time that a king or vassal is under the effects of this pledge shall be referred to as “term of service”. For the purpose of this pledge, the term “vassal” shall refer to any non-king entity that enters into this pledge. Vassals are expected to continue service under this pledge for the entire season without exception - again see violation stipulations (p.4) below. For purposes of this pledge, the term “Freehold of the XXXXX” and the term “freehold” shall refer to the current area that the king (as defined above) current claims rights to and has either a. been passed on by the previous king, b. claimed during their term as king, or c. been gifted temporarily by any vassal willing and able to do so. p.2 [Duties of the King] The king (as defined above) shall be responsible for the well being and betterment of the Freehold of the XXXXX (as defined above). The king shall be responsible for investigations of missing persons, developing a martial core able to defend the freehold, scheduling monthly gatherings, and ensuring the safety of the Freehold of the XXXXX from those that would do it harm. This is not an inclusive list and other tasks may be added at any time, as the king sees fit. These tasks do not need to be completed personally by the king, but they are the king’s responsibility and failure to maintain them shall result in violating the pledge. Those swearing to this pledge understand that unexpected circumstances do occur and those will be addressed in p.5 Appeals. The king shall expect to be compensated for his service during his term of service. In addition to the social benefits that the title grants the king shall also be entitled to a portion of the magical nature of his vassals. The king may, at any time, demand a potency of glamour from any one or several subjects equal to his own magical potency. This activity shall be performed once and only once during any given term of service and shall not leave the vassal or vassals unprotected. p.3 [Service of Vassals] In exchange for the protection of the king and freehold, the vassal (as defined above) is expected to work toward the general improvement of the Freehold of the XXXXX with the understanding that self-improvement, so long as it is not at the cost of the freehold, is considered to be in the best interest of the freehold. Vassals are expected to work under the king’s guidance in order to see that the duties of the king are accomplished. Failure to perform either task shall result in violation of this pledge. In exchange for service to the freehold (as defined above), the vassal shall be conferred some measure of mental stability. This stability is by no means guaranteed by the king and should not be relied upon entirely. The king has no responsibility for the failing mental stability of any vassal until such a time that the vassal can no longer work toward the betterment of the freehold. Vassals are also expected to willingly transfer a portion of their magical nature as defined above. p.4 [Violation Stipulations] All areas defined in this section shall be under the consideration of p.5, Appeals. The pledge is not terminated for those that do not violate the terms within. Should the king (as defined above) violate the pledge title, crown, and any ability gifted to the king from this pledge shall be removed immediately. In addition, so long as the king remains within the Freehold of the XXXXX the land will not allow rest or safety. The nature of this pledge will not directly harm the king, but will ensure that any attempt to heal, harvest, hide or perform any activity other than coming before the court of appeals (see p.5). The freehold’s land shall both strip the glamour form any such violator as well as deny the former king the ability to gather more. Should a vassal violate the terms of the pledge, the king shall become immediately aware. The vassal, so long as they remain within the freehold lands, can in no way continue to act against the freehold or king. Former vassals will no longer be gifted the mental stability that they received while under this pledge and will be expected to repay the freehold a portion of their own mental stability. This payment is permanent. Any violator, even those found acting in the best interest of the freehold, may not again swear this pledge for a year and a day. p.5 [Appeals] At any time a king or vassal feels that they have been unjustly found in violation of this pledge they may request a review. This appeal process shall be reviewed by three members of the freehold. Each member shall be from a different court, but one must be from the court of the accused. The remaining two members will be selected by the current king. If the king is found in violation of the pledge, the former king, so long as they are still in god standing within the freehold, will select the remaining two members. Should the court of appeals find unanimously that there was either a. no violation of the pledge or b. the violation was necessary for the betterment of the freehold the pledge violator will be alleviated from any negative effects of violating this pledge. p.6 [Current King and Vassals] {Names have been removed}

"Reflection of the Hunter's Moon"

p.1 [Enlistment] For the purposes of this pledge, all those that are to agree to this pledge are to be referred to as “recruit(s)”. Those that have already agreed to the pledges terms are to be referred to as “hunter(s)”. Those that the hunters have formally acknowledged as criminals are to be referred to as “criminal(s)”. The “area” refers to the freehold in which a hunter is pledged to. If this pledge is simply being renewed, the hunter need not enact the tenants of the recruit a second time, but the timing must remain the same. Until the document is signed (or the last words are said depending on the hunter’s method) the recruit is to be silent and allow the hunter to proceed without interfering in any way. Failure to relent will result in the recruit’s dismissal and invalidation of this pledge. p.2 [Bindings] This pledge must be sworn in the light of the last phase of the moon, on the last night of the crescent moon. After the pledge is signed (or spoken) the following steps must be followed to bind the recruit to the other hunters. The recruit is to have their hands tied behind them. All weapons are to be removed from the recruit. At no time during the enacting of this pledge is the recruit allowed to enact any contract – formal or otherwise. The recruit is to be placed face down in the light of the moon. The hunter gives the recruit a pre-determined time, defaulting to thirty minutes if not specified, to flee the area. After this time the recruit is to be tracked as if they were a criminal. This activity is to both test the recruit’s natural abilities as well as allow the hunter to practice their trade without infringing on the rights of others. This activity also ties the recruit to the hunter through the nature of predator and prey. This being acknowledged, at the end of the hunt the recruit and hunter are tied together. This will be the last time that the recruit is treated as prey. As long as this pledge remains intact, the recruit and hunter will work together and protect each other in times of hunt or rest. Should a hunter ever fail to uphold wording of this pledge, they will once again be viewed as prey and also as a criminal - subject to all that normally entails. Those hunters still loyal to the pledge will immediately be notified of this development. So long as the hunters remain loyal to this pledge their ability to find those they look for, as well as move through the wilder areas will be significantly improved. p.3 [Judgment] The hunters act as a committee deciding who is and is not a criminal. All hunters within the area must collectively and unanimously agree that an individual is to be seen as a criminal. Once an individual has been nominated as a criminal, all hunters are responsible for the capture and punishment of the criminal. The activity of capturing a criminal is to come before all other activities. The hunt is to be started immediately after the individual is deemed a criminal and will only be postponed if healing is required for the hunters. Should a hunter become wounded, this pledge will act to withhold any pain that they might feel while pursuing a criminal. The punishment is to align with the area’s standing laws and is not to violate any pledge to the freehold that the hunter is currently subject to.